Groups Three and Two deadlocked on new date for representative games

Regional development manager Kevin Hill will now have to decide on a date for the Group Three/Group Two games.

THE Country Rugby League will now have to decide when the Group Three/Group Two representative rugby league and league tag games are played.

The two groups have been unable to resolve when the fixtures, initially set down for this Saturday, will now be decided. Group Three asked the games be postponed because there has been no football here following wet weather.

Group Three put forward Saturday May 6 as the date, meaning there would be two rounds played before teams were picked. Group Two wants Saturday April 29.

“Neither of our coaches, Matt Shipway (under 23s) or Scott Jacklin (league tag) will be available on April 29,’’ Group Three chief executive Barrie Smith explained.

“Scott will be in Mudgee coaching the Hunter schoolboy touch football team while Matt has a family function he has to attend outside the area.’’

Mr Smith added the point of playing the games is to pick the strongest possible North Coast side for the Country Championships.

“It’s not to get brownie points by beating the other group,’’ he said.

North Coast’s opening match in the Country Championships isn’t until Saturday May 20.

The CRL regional manager Kevin Hill is expected to make the final decision this week on when the group games will be played.